Contractor offers dirt; supervisors love gift

DESOTO COUNTY — Officials say a dirty gift will save DeSoto County tens of thousands of dollars.

A contractor working near the new jail just south of Hernando offered 5,000 cubic yards of dirt — about 400 truckloads, the Commercial Appeal reported.

The Board of Supervisors endorsed the plan unanimously last week after Sheriff Bill Rasco said the dirt can be stored on the jail’s 51-acre site, near its current location at a bail bond office under construction.

“There’s plenty of room,” Rasco said.

Using it as landfill cover at the County Rubbish Pit can save the county $20,000 to $30,000 during the next fiscal year, Environmental Services Manager Ray Laughter said.

He said the county spent $65,800 on landfill cover in fiscal 2012.

Laughter said having a contractor haul it will save about $20 per load, with greater savings if county road crews haul it to the pit near Olive Branch.